TANEY COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

TANEY COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO HOST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING NEXT WEEK

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:35:40 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell is pleased to announce that on July 29th, 2010 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, a free training, “Determining the Dominant Aggressor in Domestic Violence Cases” is being hosted for law enforcement, prosecutors and allied professionals. This course will delve into the dynamics of family violence, will show how to determine the dominant aggressor, as well as offer investigation and documentation strategies for success in the resolution of these cases. The training is certified for 2 hours of POST Continuing Education Legal credits & 2 hours Interpersonal Credit by the Missouri Department of Public Safety POST program or 4 hours of CLE by the Missouri Bar.

For more information about this training please download the forms below:

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FIVE YEARS FOR ASSAULTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:38:49 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that PETER OLSON, dob: 9/16/1972 was sentenced by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr last Thursday to five years (5) for the class C felony of assault of a law enforcement officer in the second degree, five years (5) for the class C felony of stealing, five years (5) for the class C felony of unlawful use of a weapon and four (4) years for the class D felony of property damage in the first degree. Probation was denied.

On July 15, 2009, during a investigation at the Lost Tree Apartment Complex in Taney County, Missouri PETER OLSON was arrested and detained inside a Stone County Sheriff’s vehicle. During his arrest, PETER OLSON got in the driver seat of the vehicle and attempted to escape. During his escape PETER OLSON struck another patrol vehicle, and nearly ran over a law enforcement officer. A spike strip was deployed at U.S. 65 and Route EE, and the vehicle was finally stopped. Deputies had to deploy a taser device to subdue the defendant PETER OLSON. PETER OLSON was a convicted felon and present inside the Stone County Sheriff’s vehicle was a service rifle.

PAUL LIGHT SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS FOR ENTICEMENT OF A CHILD

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:22:13 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that PAUL K. LIGHT, dob 12/15/1963 of Jefferson City, Missouri was sentenced to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections last Thursday by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr for the unclassified felony of enticement of a child. Probation was denied.

Between June 16, 2009 and July 27, 2009, a detective with the Taney County Sheriff’s Department was operating in an undercover capacity on the internet in connection with the Tri-Lakes Regional Internet Crimes Task Force. The detective was posing as a female under the age of fourteen in Yahoo! chatrooms. During her undercover operation, the detective made contact with a individual with the username muneeshot63. During contact over a month long period, muneeshot63 engaged in sexually explicit chat with the detective posing as a minor and sent her pornographic movies and a video of his genitalia. Muneeshot63 attempted to entice the detective posing as a minor into engaging sexual acts with him. Through internet logs and IP addresses, muneeshot63 was later identified as PAUL K. LIGHT.

JANELLE HARTNESS RECEIVES TWELVE (12) YEARS FOR TRAFFICKING

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:13:49 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that Janelle Hartness, dob: 08/19/1964 of Ozark, Missouri was sentenced last Friday by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr to twelve (12) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the class A felony of trafficking in the second degree, and twelve (12) years on each of two counts of distribution of a controlled substance and as a prior and persistent felony offender. Probation was denied and all sentences are to run concurrent.

On October 14, 2005 officers from the COMET drug task force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Soutease MIssouri Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at the residence of JANELLE HARTNESS in Ridgedale, Missouri. Officers had received information from a confidential source that JANELLE HARTNESS had been dealing methamphetamine from her residence over the past five years, and the confidential source further state that on one occasion he/she had observed a pound of methamphetamine inside the Ridgedale residence. During the execution of the search warrant officers located multiple items used in the trafficking of narcotics along with 248.3 grams of methamphetamine that was discovered in a shed in the back yard of the residence. In connection with this offense JANELLE HARTNESS was charged with the A felony of trafficking in the second degree.

On December 14, 2006 undercover officers withe COMET drug task force purchased an eightball of methamphetamine for $275.00 from JANELLE HARTNESS through a confidential informant in the parking lot of Blockbuster of Hollister, Missouri. In connection with this offense JANELLE HARTNESS was charged with the felony of distribution of a controlled substance as a prior and persistent felony offender.

On February 14, 2007 undercover officers with the COMET drug task force again purchased an eight-ball of methamphetamine for $250.00 from JANELLE HARTNESS through a confidential informant at the Fast Trip Car Wash in Hollister, Missouri. In connection with this offense JANELLE HARTNESS was charged with the felony of distribution of a controlled substance as a prior and persistent felony offender.

THEFT AND DAMAGE OF CAMPAIGN SIGNS PROHIBITED

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:59:38 +0000

With election season upon us, Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeff Merrell and Sheriff Jimmie Russell would like to remind everybody to be respectful of campaign signs placed throughout our community.

Individuals that are caught stealing campaign signs or damaging campaign signs face up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 dollar fine for each sign. If you are caught in possession of stolen signs you could face up to six months in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $500 for each individual sign. Finally, please remember to ask before placing campaign signs on a person’s property. Trespassing carries a punishment of up to a $200.00 fine for each individual occurrence.

If you have information of any theft or damage of campaign signs please call the non-emergency number for your local law enforcement agency below.

Taney County Sheriff’s Department: 546-7250
Branson Police Department: 337-8532
Hollister Police Department: 334-6565
Forsyth Police Department: 546-3731
Rockaway Beach Police Department: 561-4471
Merriam Woods Police Department: 561-1001

CANOE RAFFLE TO BENEFIT DELMINA WOODS RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:13:06 +0000

The Delmina Woods Community Council along with the Taney and Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices and the Ozark VFW are pleased to announce a fundraiser to benefit the girls at the Delmina Woods Residential Program in Forsyth, Missouri. The Delmina Woods Residential Program provides standard and vocational education, counseling, life-skills training and community service opportunities to Southwest Missouri girls who have been placed by the State with the Division of Youth Services.

For a $1.00 donation you get a chance to win a HAND-BUILT LAKE READY CANOE. For $5.00, you get 6 CHANCES TO WIN. Please stop by the Taney or Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices or call (417) 546-7260 for more information. See the canoe at the Christian County Courthouse July 6 – July 16 and the Taney County Courthouse July 19 – September 2.

The drawing will be Thursday, September 2, 2010, at noon at the Taney County Courthouse.
The drawing is just in time to use your new canoe on Labor Day. You need not be present to win and all proceeds go to benefit the girls at the Delmina Woods Residential Program.

JAMES SMITH SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:02:02 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that JAMES L. SMITH, dob: 11/13/1958 of Forsyth, Missouri was sentenced to six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr for the class C felony of receiving stolen property as a prior and persistent felony offender. Probation was denied. On February 4, 2010, Griffith Bail Bonds in Forsyth, Missouri was broken into. Electronics and other items were stolen from the business. Through investigation by Chief Mike Womack of the Forsyth Police Department and Detective Rick Hill of the Taney County Sheriff’s Department, JAMES L. SMITH was developed as a suspect in the stolen property. Officers made contact with JAMES L. SMITH at his residence and were able to recover some of the items stolen from the business. Smith admitted to officers that he intended to sell the stolen computer and two-way radios he possessed. He was later charged by the prosecutor’s office with one count of the class c felony of receiving stolen property for being in possession of these stolen items.

PRIOR AND PERSISTENT FELON RECEIVES FIFTEEN YEAR SENTENCE FOR DRUGS AND ATTEMPTED THEFT

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:20:12 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that DON OWENS, dob: 12-07-1974 was sentenced Thursday by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr to fifteen (15) years for the class A felony of possession of a controlled substance as a prior and persistent felony drug offender, and seven (7) years for the class C felony of attempted stealing as a prior and persistent felony offender. Probation was denied and both sentences are to run concurrent.

On February 18, 2010, Officers with the Branson Police Department responded to the Branson Landing to investigate a suspicious backpack that was left in front of an ATM machine. Inside the backpack officers discovered burglary tools and a small incendiary device. The Springfield Police Department Bomb Squad was brought in for security purposes to detonate the backpack. Later through surveillance video, DON OWENS was discovered to be the owner of the backpack. Upon a consent search of DON OWENS room at a local hotel , Branson Police Officers discovered a baggie containing a white crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine as well as receipts tying DON OWENS to the backpack left in front of the ATM machine. Through their investigation, Branson detectives learned that DON OWENS was attempting to break into the ATM machine on the landing through a method he learned on the popular internet video site, YouTube.

CAMP DIRECTOR SENTENCED TO TWO CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES PLUS THIRTY YEARS

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:57:20 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that PETER NEWMAN, dob: 10-30-1975, was sentenced today by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr to life imprisonment on each of two counts of the unclassified felony statutory sodomy in the first degree, seven years on each of three counts of the class C felony of statutory sodomy in the second degree, and thirty years on each of three counts of the unclassified felony of enticement of a child. Probation was denied on all counts. The thirty year sentence and seven year sentences are to run concurrent to each other and consecutive to each life sentence. On February 18, 2010 PETER NEWMAN entered a plea of guilty without a plea agreement to the eight counts listed above.

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MICHAEL ERB SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS FOR MOLESTATION FOLLOWING TRIAL

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:56:38 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that MICHAEL L. ERB, dob: 8/11/1968 of Hollister, Missouri was sentenced yesterday by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr to ten (10) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for two counts of the class B felony of child molestation in the first degree. Probation was denied and both counts are to run concurrent. On December 1, 2009 a bench trial was held in Christian County on a change of venue motion filed by the defense.

Between May 1 and November 15, 2005 the defendant subjected two separate victims under the age of fourteen to sexual contact during sleepovers at his house in Hollister, Missouri. The Hollister Police Department investigated the allegations and the forensic interviews of the minor children were performed by the Child Advocacy Center in Branson West.

The class B felony of child molestation in the first degree has a range of punishment of five (5) to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.